GIFT  OF 


s 

(    *••  3ITY    ) 


INTERSTATE  COMMERCE  COMMISSION 


sj 
NATIONAL  CODE  OF  RULES 


GOVERNING  THE 


WEIGHING  AND  REWEIGHING 
OF  CARLOAD  FREIGHT 


JUNE  9,  1914 


WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE 
1914 


INTERSTATE  COMMERCE  COMMISSION. 


NATIONAL  CODE  OF  RULES  GOVERNING  THE  WEIGH- 
ING AND  REWEIGHING  OF  CARLOAD  FREIGHT. 

The  American  Railway  Association  has  adopted  the  code  of  rules 
governing  the  weighing  and  reweighing  of  carload  freight  reported 
by  its  Weighing  Committee,  and  recommends  that  it  be  made  gen- 
erally applicable  on  interstate  traffic.  These  rules,  have  been  con- 
sidered and  approved  by  the  National  Industrial  Traffic  League. 
The  Interstate  Commerce  Commission,  recognizing  the  great  benefits 
to  be  derived  from  uniformity  in  weighing  and  reweighing  rules,  is 
desirous  of  lending  its  influence  to  the  movement.  The  Commis- 
sion, therefore,  indorses  the  rules  governing  the  weighing  and  re- 
weighing  of  carload  freight  adopted  by  the  American  Railway  Asso- 
ciation and  recommends  that  they  be  made  effective  on  interstate 
transportation  throughout  the  country. 

This  action,  of  course,  is  subject  to  the  right  and  duty  of  the  Com- 
mission to  inquire  into  the  legality  or  reasonableness  of  any  rule  or 
rules  which  may  be  made  the  subject  of  complaint. 

By  the  Commission. 

[SEAL.]  GEORGE  B.  McGiNTY, 

Secretary* 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  June  P,  1914. 

3 

50608°— 14 


368365 


NATIONAL  CODE  OF  RULES  GOVERNING  THE  WEIGHING 
AND  REWEIGHING  OF  CARLOAD  FREIGHT. 

INTRODUCTORY  PARAGRAPH. 

These  rules  do  not  change  or  amend  the  rules,  minimum  weights,  or  estimated 
weights  provided  in  tariffs,  or  the  classifications  governing  the  tariffs,  nor  the 
rules  and  regulations  of  the  individual  lines  as  filed  with  the  Interstate  Com- 
merce Commission. 

RULE  1. — SUPERVISION  OF  SCALES. 

When  weights  obtained  on  railroad  or  private  scales  are  used  for  the 
assessment  of  freight  charges,  such  scales  shall  be  maintained,  tested,  and 
operated  in  accordance  with  the  Track  Scale  Specifications  and  Rules  ap- 
proved by  The  American  Railway  Association. 

RULE  2. — WEIGHTS — BY  WHOM  ASCERTAINED. 

Weights  should  be  ascertained  by  competent  employees  after  proper  instruc- 
tion and  under  proper  supervision. 

RULE  3. — WEIGHTS — How   ASCERTAINED. 

SECTION  A.  When  track-scale  weights  are  used  for  the  assessment  of  freight 
charges,  weighing  must  be  done  by  or  under  the  supervision  of  the  carriers 
or  their  representatives  or  under  properly  supervised  weight  agreements. 

SECTION  B.  Cars  may  be  weighed  at  rest : 

(1)  When  uncoupled  and  free  at  both  ends. 

(2)  When  coupled  at  one  end  and  free  at  the  other  end,  only  at  points  where 
the  scale  rails  are  level  and  approach  rails  level  for  a  distance  of  50  feet,  and 
when  the  scales  are  kept  in  first-class  condition. 

SECTION  C.  Cars  may  be  weighed  in  motion,  only  when  uncoupled  and  free 
at  both  ends  and  alone,  upon  scales  properly  designed  for  weighing  in  motion 
and  in  charge  of  a  competent  weighmaster. 

SECTION  D.  Cars  loaded  with  long  material  extending  from  one  car  to 
another  may  be  weighed  coupled  at  rest.  They  may  also  be  weighed  coupled 
in  motion  on  scales  of  sufficient  length  to  properly  weigh  together  the  cars  so 
coupled. 

SECTION  E.  When  the  actual  tare  of  a  car  has  been  ascertained  immediately 
before  loading,  it  shall  be  used  in  lieu  of  the  marked  tare,  except  as  provided 
in  Section  F. 

SECTION  F.  If  a  loaded  car,  upon  arrival  at  destination,  is  weighed  and  the 
actual  tare  is  ascertained  after  the  entire  lading  of  the  car  has  been  removed, 
including  all  packing  and  the  debris  resulting  from  that  lading,  it  shall  be 
4 


NATIONAL    CODE    OF    RULES.  5 

used  in  lieu  of  the  marked  tare.    If  the  car  is  reloaded  by  the  consignee,  actual 
tare  obtained  in  like  manner  may  be  used. 

SECTION  G.  The  marked  tare  should  be  used  to  arrive  at  the  net  weight  of 
the  load,  except  as  provided  in  Sections  E  and  F  of  this  rule. 

RULE  4. — WEIGHTS — WHERE  ASCERTAINED. 

• 

Carload  freight  should  be  weighed  at  point  of  origin,  or  as  near  thereto  as 
practicable. 

RULE  5. — WHEN  CARS  MAY  BE  REWEIGHED. 

SECTION  A.  When  the  lading  has  been  transferred  en  route,  where  car  has 
met  with  an  accident,  or  where  for  other  reasons  there  is  evidence  of  loss  in 
transit,  the  carriers  will,  when  practicable,  reweigh  the  car. 

SECTION  B.  Carload  freight  may  also  be  reweighed  en  route  or  at  destination, 
for  the  information  of  the  interested  carriers  and  to  test  the  accuracy  of  the 
previous  weighings.  (See  Rule  8.) 

SECTION  C.  When  request  is  made  by  consignor  or  consignee  for  the  reweigh- 
ing  of  any  car,  such  reweighing  shall  be  done,  whenever  practicable,  the  car  to 
be  weighed  again  if  necessary — subject  to  Rule  9. 

RULE   6. — NOTIFICATION. 

Upon  request  the  consignor  will  be  furnished  with  the  gross,  tare,  and  net 
weights  and  all  changes  made  therein. 

RULE  7. — INFORMATION  TO  BE  SHOWN  ON  SCALE  RECORD,  WEIGHT  CERTIFICATE, 
WAYBILL,  FREIGHT  BILL,  ETC. 

SECTION  A.  A  record  should  be  kept  at  each  track  scale  showing  the  gross, 
tare  (whether  actual  or  stenciled),  and  net  weight;  the  date  and  time  of  weigh- 
ing ;  the  condition  of  the  weather ;  whether  weighed  at  rest  or  in  motion ; 
coupled  at  one  or  both  ends  or  uncoupled ;  when  actual  tare  is  used,  estimated 
amount  of  debris  in  the  car. 

SECTION  B.  The  point  at  which  car  is  weighed  and  the  gross  tare  and  net 
weights  will  be  noted  in  ink  or  indelible  pencil  on  regular  waybill  and  slip  bill 
or  card  bill.  When  actual  tare  is  used  instead  of  marked  tare  it  should  be  so 
specified  (see  Rule  3).  The  method  of  ascertaining  the  weight  should  also  be 
specified  as  Railroad  Scale,  Weighing  Bureau,  Shippers',  Tariff,  Classification,  or 
Agreement  Weight.  This  information  must  also  be  shown  on  transfers  to  con- 
necting line,  on  correction  sheets  when  issued,  carried  on  waybills  to  destina- 
tion, and  shown  on  freight  bills. 

SECTION  C.  When  track  scales  are  equipped  with  registering  or  recording 
device  and  sticker  form  of  scale  tickets  is  used,  said  tickets  may  be  used  in 
same  manner  as  provided  above,  and  if  space  is  provided  thereon  the  informa- 
tion shown  in  Section  A  will  be  added. 

SECTION  D.  WThere  side  cards  are  provided  for  the  purpose,  weights  should 
be  indorsed  thereon. 

SECTION  E.  In  case  agent  at  point  of  origin  receives  request  from  consignor 
for  the  result  of  weighing  or  reweighing,  proper  notation  should  be  made  on 
billing  accompanying  the  car  to  destination.  (See  Rule  6.) 

SECTION  F.  Where  weights  are  obtained  for  billing  purposes  under  weight 
agreements  which  do  not  provide  for  use  of  the  gross  and  tare  weights,  the 
gross  and  tare  weights  need  not  be  shown  as  provided  in  Sections  B,  C,  and  D. 


6  INTERSTATE    COMMERCE    COMMISSION. 

RULE  8. — WEIGHTS  TO  GOVERN  AND  TOLERANCE/ 

SECTION  A.  Where  carload  freight,  the  weight  of  which  is  not  subject  to 
change  from  its  inherent  nature,  is  checkweighed  or  reweighed  en  route  or  at 
destination,  no  correction  will  be  made  in  the  billed  weight  except  as  provided 
below  : 

SECTION  B.  If  the  difference  between  the  original  net  weight  and  the  weight 
obtained  by  reweighing  does  not  exceed  the  tolerance  provided  in  this  rule,  the 
first  weight  will  not  be  changed.  If  such  difference  exceeds  the  tolerance,  the 
car  should  be  weighed  a  third  time  if  practicable.  If  the  third  weighing  con- 
firms the  original  weight  within  the  tolerance,  no  change  shall  be  made.  Where 
the  original  weight  can  not  be  applied  as  above,  the  lower  of  the  second  or  third 
weight  shall  be  used  where  the  difference  between  the  second  and  third  weights 
does  not  exceed  the  tolerance.. 

SECTION  C.  In  deciding  between  weights  obtained  on  track  scales  as  to  which 
is  the  more  correct,  all  of  the  conditions  under  which  the  several  weighings  were 
done  must  be  taken  into  consideration,  including  the  class  of  scale,  condition, 
how  recently  tested,  the  manner  of  weighing,  whether  car  was  at  rest  or  in 
motion,  coupled  or  uncoupled,  actual  or  stenciled  tare  used,  the  time  of  weighing, 
weather  conditions,  and  the  reliability  of  the  weigher,  giving  precedence  to  that 
weight  obtained  under  the  best  conditions. 

SECTION  D.  The  consignor  or. consignee  shall  be  permitted  to  show  the  actual 
weight  of  any  carload  shipment  either  by  means  of  shipper's  authenticated 
invoice  or  by  weighing  the  entire  load  on  platform  scales,  or  by  so  weighing  a 
proper  portion  of  uniform  or  standard  weight  articles  (not  less  than  10  per  cent 
of  the  lading),  weighing  to  be  performed  under  supervision  of  the  carrier;  pro- 
vided such  total  weight  includes  all  blocking,  packing,  and  debris  resulting  from 
the  lading  in  question.  This  actual  weight  will  be  used  to  determine  freight 
charges  (subject  to  weight  agreements  if  applicable),  provided  the  difference 
in  weight  exceeds  the  tolerance. 

SECTION  E.  The  tolerance  shall  be  1  per  cent  of  the  lading,  with  a  minimum 
of  500  pounds,  on  all  carload  freight,  including  coal  and  coke,  except  that  when 
ashes,  cinders,  clay,  dolomite,  ganister,  gravel,  mill  scale,  ore,  sand,  slag,  all 
stone  (not  cut),  and  similar  bulk  freight,  brick  and  soft  drain  tile  are  loaded  in 
open  cars,  the  tolerance  shall  be  1  per  cent  of  the  lading,  with  a  minimum  of 
1,000  pounds. 

NOTE. — Tolerance  on  coal  and  coke  does  not  include  difference  in  weight  due  to  evapora- 
tion, which  shall  be  determined  and  published  in  initial  carrier's  tariff. 

SECTION  F.  Weights  of  commodities  subject  to  shrinkage  in  weight  from  their 
inherent  nature,  properly  obtained  at  or  near  point  of  origin,  should  not  be 
changed,  except  as  provided  for  in  the  tariffs  of  the  carriers.  If  obvious  error 
is  discovered,  each  case  should  be  dealt  with  upon  its  individual  merits  and 
report  made  to  the  originating  carrier  with  all  the  facts. 

RULE  9. — CHARGES  FOR  WEIGHING  AND  REWEIGHING. 

SECTION  A.  When  weights  are  obtained  for  the  assessment  of  freight  charges 
no  charge  will  be  made  by  the  carrier  for  the  service. 

SECTION  B.  When  a  car  is  weighed  or  reweighed,  either  empty  or  loaded,  at 
request  of  either  consignor  or  consignee,  the  service  and  charges  will  be  in 
accordance  with  conditions  named  below,  subject  to  the  rules  and  carload 
minimum  weights  prescribed  in  tariffs  and  classifications. 

1  Definition  of  tolerance :  The  difference  in  weights  due  to  variation  in  scales  or  weigh- 
ing which  may  be  permitted  without  correction  of  the  billed  weight. 


NATIONAL    CODE    OF    RULES.  7 

SECTION  C.  When  a  shipper  or  consignee  requests  that  a  car  containing  a 
commodity  which  is  not  subject  to  shrinkage  from  its  inherent  nature  be  re- 
weighed,  this  service,  wherever  practicable,  will  be  performed  by  the  carrier 
without  charge,  provided  such  reweighing  discloses  error  in  the  billed  weight 
of  more  than  the  tolerance  provided  in  Rule  8.  When  a  car  contains  a  com- 
modity which  is  subject  to  shrinkage  from  its  inherent  nature  no  charge  will 
be  made  if  the  billed  weight  is  changed,  as  per  Rule  8,  Section  F. 

SECTION  D.  When  a  car  is  weighed  or  reweighed,  either  empty  or  loaded,  at 
request  of  either  consignor  or  consignee,  a  charge  will  be  made  each  time  car 
is  weighed  (except  as  provided  in  Section  C)  : 

(1)  On  private  scales  located  at  the  industry,  $ —      -  per  car. 

(2)  On  other  private  scales  conveniently  located,  $ —     —  per  car.     (See  note.) 

(3)  On  railroad  company's  scales  conveniently  located,  $ —      -  per  car. 

NOTE. — The   parties   desiring   the   weighing  done   must   make   their  own   arrangements 

with  the  owners  of  the   scales  for  their  use.     The  charge  of  $ —  covers  only   the 

weighing  service  performed  by  the  carrier. 

SECTION  E.  When  inbound  freight  is  weighed  or  reweighed  by  a  switching 
line  (not  participating  in  the  freight  rate)  the  above  charges  will  be  assessed, 
regardless  of  any  variation  in  weights,  and  will  be  in  addition  to  the  regular 
switching  charge.  If  no  change  is  made  in  billed  weight  the  charge  will  be 
against  the  party  or  road  requesting  weighing;  when  change  is  made  in  billed 
weight  the  charge  will  be  made  by  the  switching  line  against  the  delivering 
road. 

SECTION  F.  When  carload  shipments  which  are  provided  for  in  classification 
and  tariffs  at  fixed  or  estimated  weights  are  reweighed,  at  the  request  of  con- 
signor or  consignee,  the  above  charges  will  be  assessed,  regardless  of  any 
variation  in  weight. 

SECTION  G.  Where  carload  shipments  are  billed  at  minimum  carload  weight 
and  are  reweighed  on  request  of  consignor  or  consignee,  the  above  charges 
will  be  assessed,  unless  the  variation  in  the  weight  increases  the  freight 
charges. 

RULE  10. — WEIGHT  AGREEMENTS. 

SECTION  A.  When  shippers'  weights  of  property  are  accepted  and  applied 
by  the  carriers  under  weight  agreements,  properly  supervised,  such  weights 
should  be  designated  in  the  prescribed  manner  on  waybills,  shipping  tickets, 
bills  of  lading,  or  weight  certificates  (see  Rule  7,  Section  B),  and  the  property 
should  not  be  reweighed,  except  as  provided  in  Rule  5.  Proper  supervision 
means  checking  of  the  records  of  the  shipper  by  the  authorized  representative 
of  the  carrier  to  verify  the  weights  and  descriptions  furnished  and  the  weighing 
of  a  sufficient  number  of  cars  for  verifications. 

SECTION  B.  When  investigation,  through  examination  of  the  shippers'  records 
or  by  reweighing,  discloses  error  in  weights  or  description  shown  on  original 
billing  the  charges  shall  be  adjusted  to  the  proper  basis,  and  notice  of  such 
change  shall  in  all  cases  be  transmitted  to  the  interested  carriers  or  their 
representatives. 

SECTION  C.  Forms  of  weight  agreement  suitable  to  the  character  of  the  busi- 
ness tendered  for  transportation  shall  embrace  the  following  general  principles, 
and  copies  thereof  shall  be  filed  with  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission. 
The  agreements  shall  be  in  writing  and  provide  that — 

(1)  The  shipper  shall  report  and  certify  correct  gross  weights  (except 
where  estimated  weights  are  provided  in  tariff  or  classifications),  and  correct 
description  of  commodities  on  shipping  tickets,  bills  of  lading,  or  weight  cer- 


8  INTERSTATE    COMMERCE    COMMISSION. 

tificates,  and  correct  gross  tare  and  net  weights  when  obtained  on  track  scales, 
where  such  weights  are  used,  for  billing  purposes. 

(2)  The  shipper  shall  allow  the  authorized  representative  of  the  carrier  to 
inspect  the  original  weight  sheets,  books,  invoices,  and  records  necessary  to 
verify  the  weights  and  description  of  the  commodities  certified  in  the  shipping 
tickets,  bills  of  lading,  or  weight  certificate. 

(3)  The  shipper  shall  promptly  pay  to  the  authorized  representative  of  the 
carrier  bills  for  all  undercharges  resulting  from  the  certification  of  incorrect 
weights  or  improper  description. 

(4)  When  wreights  of  uniform  or  standard  weight  articles  are  based  upon 
averages  the  shipper  shall  give  prompt  notice  to  the  authorized  representative 
of  the  carrier  when  any  change  is  made  in  the  package  or  material  used  which 
will  affect  the  weight  arrived  at  by  use  of  the  average. 

(5)  The  shipper  shall  keep  in  good  weighing  condition  any  and  all  scales 
used  in  determining  weights  and  have  track   scales  tested,   maintained,   and 
operated  in  accordance  with  the  Track  Scale  Specifications  and  Rules  approved 
by  the  American  Railway  Association,  and  shall  allow  the  authorized  represen- 
tative of  the  carrier  to  inspect  and  test  them/ 

(6)  The  agreement  may  be  canceled  by  10  days'  notice  in  writing  to  either 
party. 

(7)  All  shipments  made  under  the  agreement  will  be  subject  to  rates  and 
charges  prescribed  by  classifications,  tariffs,  or  rules  of  the  carriers  interested. 


o 


Gaylord  Bros. 

Maker* 
Syracuse.  N.  Y. 

PAT.  JAN.  21.  m 


Y.C  894' 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


